Making $13,000 Mosaic Damascus Bowies

[@jhublades]

Only took me 3 months to make this video

[@hydrogradd]

We're patient, coz we know it'll be worth it!

[@Benjamin-sv6gi]

3 months well spent

[@KDLknives]

Worth it

[@Vetveto001]

Where’s the discord👀 you said you’d maybe make one after this video

[@DrakeDennis-i3m]

Man they look great, I love your videos and nice job!

[@_HENRY_S]

For those wondering. Jesse battled against 8 competitors over 64 hours of forging in 4 episodes of forged in fire and came out undefeated with $50,000. The dude was and is unstoppable.

[@fantastic_jarod2391]

Damn this dude is a beast

[@earthknight60]

Never got to see him go up against Ben in a 'beat the judges' competition though. That would have been interesting.

[@user-kanechang]

我看過八集很好的比賽

[@stevew3978]

Do you know which season and which episodes he was in?

[@Kratos_God_of_50_BMG]

@@earthknight60I’ve been saying this since Ben’s last victory! One of the previous winners went up against Dave Baker and beat him, so a Ben vs Jesse showdown would be EPIC

[@andrewpan5014]

Literally documentary length forging videos, incredible

[@jhublades]

That’s the goal! Hope you enjoy :)

[@EdwardAyers]

@@jhublades I am not a blacksmith, but I love watching true makers. Subscribed today when I watched this. I'm going to go through the rest of your work. Blade makers and luthiers. ☮

[@cynicalsaint6658]

So humble about your time on forged in fire. You my man where a god on that show. My wife and I have both watched your episodes numerous times.

[@Smokey420Greenleaf]

not humble... embarrassed is probably a better word. forged in fire is an overly trendy joke.

[@김흥건]

멋지다 나도 하나 갖고 싶다

[@seanbucklar7527]

As a leather worker with hand problems - the maker gods made scalpels for a reason. Learn to use a scalpel and if you need to - bevel guides or simple square cut guides (like a ruler but with a bit of extra height (the plane going up from your cutting table) at 90 degrees or whatever bevel you want to cut - get way more precise with way less muscle in your thumbs. Instead of hand punching an Awl through before stitching, Drill press or a through punch to hammer your holes into a sacrificial cutting mat or soft wood (cork or balsa) topped block - some leather makers use a lamination of leather, cork and end grain like a butchers block. When your punch pliers won’t work - you’ll always regret bodging a work around - get a hand punch and do it right. Make an “anvil” with scrap wood if you need to. Lubricate your stitching holes if your needles are sticking. I use Dubbin or coconut oil or bees wax depending on what’s handy. Leaving comments - and editing this comment as stuff progressed, I got a bit confused, sorry if I’m repeating myself😅 If you’re double stitching and contact cementing a leather piece to make an heirloom quality piece - reinforce the belt loop and the eye of the sheath - the places that will contact the edge or spine of your blade and the parts that are going to friction rub against a belt or other mount point. Laminate Kevlar or Kydex on the inside of the loop or the inside of the leather sheath. You can also frame the blade with thin wood or a 3d printed skeleton to add a bit of structure and protect the blade loads more / like a scaled down version of a sword sheath. It’s a pain and I wouldn’t bother for anything except this kind of project price tag - but for EDC that’s gonna get handed down to grandkids or something - it makes a difference. I also like putting a magnet on the inside as a secondary retention mechanism. You’ll barely notice it when drawing - unless you’re doing quick draw knife throwing or something it will never both you - but it stops the blade from jostling free in horizontal or even inverted carry (depending on size of magnet and weight of the knife) even if the retention loop comes undone or something. For divers or climbers or an arborist who works at heights, you might even use line of multiple magnets to give them really secure retention. Big F-off magnets are an option, but tend to be fragile and difficult to fit to available space - a couple of neodymium button magnets are usually better, as long as you make sure you keep the magnet polarity consistent. Sewing magnets can be tricky. Bone needles or laminated leather makes your life easier and lamination lets you get a thicker more premium feel for less at the leather shop. Obvious inner liner materials (microfibre or cotton canvas or softer/thinner leather) work great, but I’ve also seen HEMA LARP types use velvet for an aristocrats rapier type luxury builds. Adding magnets during lamination with contact cement should be pretty obvious and straight forward. Sorry this ended up a wall of text.

[@RickD5468]

I love you work and watching the videos., but 90 minutes at bed time is too long 😅. It's gonna take me a few days

[@sebastianjo752]

@@RickD5468 i get you, i watch it in the evening but da lot of stuff while watching. Cooking or other household stuff.

[@dankaczor8965]

3 months and I am very pleased with the fact that you made two blades with sheaths. Maybe do another sword, another twist Damascus build, or another build to expand your repertoire.

[@fayvis]

I'd love to see a sword as well! Or a mace or polearm, although those are pretty far outside of what you usually make for this channel.

[@izefreeze]

While you were installing that AC unit, I realized that I would watch you build literally anything.

[@mikealishis7002]

as a leather worker 1. i recommend soaking the leather in water before adding the texture punch, it just makes it stay longer and can make it look more popped. 2. when cementing the leather, i recommend roughing up the slick side of the leather to ensure a better bond between the two pieces of leather but since you cemented it, it would be fine. also with stitching your hands will bleed no matter how tough, a lot of pros use a sewing machine to prevent it and speed up the stitching process by hours. finally a leather conditioner and a satin finish are both amazing things to use no matter the leather project, i use them on all my belts and it never disappoints, you can find those at any leather shop but i like tandy's.

[@endergamer0978]

Can't wait, I'm building my own forge press! You actually explain everything in your videos, they are so informative!

[@marymckeown7029]

My Nana and I used to stay up all night when we first came across your Forged in Fire episodes. We watched every single one and then moved on to all of your KZbin videos. Now every time you post a new video it brings me that same joy we shared:) id love to hear more about your forged experience!!

[@meldyang_kayak]

Jesse beat 8 dudes back to back to back to back and won the final earnings of $50k in Forged In Fire. This dude is an incredibly talented and smart guy.

[@stephenward3468]

Nothing like making things with your own hands.I am a bench jeweller by profession.The satisfaction and workmanship that goes into every step in sequence is trully rewarding.Well done Jesse they are true works of art and all the labour of love in your creations speak for them selves.

[@SJokes]

Man i cant express the joy im feeling rn. Jesse videos are so peaceful

[@markbirchette8740]

I used to make some custom knives for myself and a few select friends. I'm very impressed with your work. I'm 59 now, so I'm just enjoying my grandchildren, but I've been watching your videos a few hours now, and I'm subscribing.

[@AK-ContentCreatIon]

Really great work Mr Hu... Kyle uses 35 for his mosaic... less distortion depending on the thickness of your initial pieces... If you make them thin with a 45 it elongates too much, he says. But is not as important if one removes a lot with grinding... And there is no shame in using sheet metal! And your humbleness is real nice to see! Keep creating!!

[@mayhem1988]

Great work Jesse, making a matched pair of things is always more difficult than making a single one and you nailed it. Another point you could have made when it comes to forging your blades thinner to save time grinding and material is that with mosaic damascus or complex pattern weld, any additional forging will either cause excess distortion in your pattern or stretch it out too much and ruin it completely. You are correct in saying that you could forge on a piece of plain carbon steel for your last tile to save on mosaic material in the tang. I forge multi-bar pattern welded swords and I nearly always forge weld on a mild steel tang, there's actually historical precident for this with many historical blades having welded on tangs. On the leather working, try marking your holes with a stitching wheel or similar and then drill them on the drill press. Find whichever size hole works best for your needles and it'll make the whole process much easier on your hands. Keep up the good work!

[@christobaliancantu7112]

After you won all those challenges, I was wondering what happened to you, so I looked you up on KZbin, and there you were. Been a subscriber for a while, and I showed my friends the challenges, and they loved the way you worked. Still love watching you work. Much love from Texas bro.

[@aboodz]

My God, these are GORGEOUS!! There's very good reason why these demand a premium. The artistry, effort, pain, and painstaking attention to detail are on another level

[@nicholasmeadors3708]

Leatherworking tip from someone fairly new at it: I use a drill press instead of the scratch awl to poke the final holes after punching the diamonds. Also, making them a little bigger than you did eliminates the strain you had in getting the needles through, and you won't break so many needles or hurt your hands. The diamond stitches are still what you see when you're done, but it's much easier.

[@ragingwillie483]

i AM NOT a knife maker of any type. however, i really enjoy your videos, from the details you provide as to "why" you are doing what you do, including things not directly related to the project itself. i hope you continue to see success, you seem to deserve it. this project came out BEAUTIFUL!!! the leather segment was a very nice touch, in my opinion

[@KingKamikadze]

Best kind of videos to find in your KZbin feed when you wanna put on something in the background to get some work done. Motivational, informative, calming and overall a great experience. Thank you, I've been watching you for a while now!

[@stephenwatkins5269]

This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful Damascus knives I have ever seen. You, sir, are a master and a legend.

[@Bread_knife_guy]

That is the most betiful Damascus pattern I have ever seen

[@Margucci]

Hey Jesse, I would LOVE to see a collab with Kyle Royer one day. It would be so interesting to see him pass down some of his skills and experience bladesmith to bladesmith. I think it would be very educational and entertaining to watch.

[@slickman5969]

yes!!! more forged and fire stories!! I subbed because i saw you on there

[@nashikan5363]

These builds are insanely unique, and that's what makes these videos so enticing! I think it would be cool to see a Damascus Pattern Shamshir/Scimitar build, or some type of curved sword, in lieu of a katana. ⚔

[@RexxotheGOAT]

Those blades look insane! Keep it up man!

[@davidwayne5152]

The patience and precision is very admirable.I applaud his work of art.😊

[@MannyD81]

Jesse Hu, you are undefeated 8 or 9 from Forged in Fire, also Ben Abbott is undefeated. Now for all the Forged in Fire fans. Let's make this show happen Jesse Hu vs Ben Abbott!

[@maggiealt1538]

the fact we both are techno fans makes me respect u alot congratz dude

[@sebastiankrueger-kiefer7696]

Unreal! Your craftsmanship has gotten next level. Pat yourself on the back bro🙌 Can’t even put into words how beautiful these knifes came out.

[@cesarjr.alonsomanluco8245]

Your ethnicity boasts of being the best in mathematics in the entire world. Reason for your brilliance. I am awestruck everytime i watch you weave your magic.

[@frankdemo8988]

You are one the best Knife Makers I've ever seen and you've only just started. Can't wait to see what your mind comes up with next. Would love to see you collab with Kyle Royer

[@bluelickleather]

I really liked your knife sheathes - you do beautiful work. Leatherwork can be very cathartic and reflective. It can also be frustrating and physically painful. But you get stronger mentally and physically. Regarding tips: I like to dip my stitching punches in a cap of spray silicone and then wipe off the excess before marking the stitches. The silicone makes it easier to remove the punches. Also, vegetable tanned leather tends to close up a bit after stitch hole punching, so the end of a run of stitching can become more difficult than the initial few stitches. The needle eye gets weaker after so much pulling and snaps off. Therefore many leather workers learn to stitch holding two needles and the awl at the same time. This technique is very awkward at first, but once you've learned it you'll be able to stitch faster since you're putting your needles through 'fresh' holes. A slight twisting motion (10 degrees or so) allows the stitching awl to release more easily after you've pushed it through the leather. Magnets on the table (or embedded into your stitching pony) are helpful for keeping your needles from tangling or rolling away. Black thread into black leather is some of the hardest stitching to do, so light your stitching object from the left AND right, instead of one bright light on top. It will save your neck and your sanity. When saddle stitching always insert the same needle first and pull the thread at a consistent angle. This will keep your stitch line straight and avoid wonky spots or a jagged stitch line. Lastly, always keep the first leather item you've sewn - never give it to someone else or throw it away. The ONLY person you should ever compare your leather work to is your former self - NEVER anyone else. We're all learning and trying to continually improve, and your first piece will always service as the origin point to indicate how far you've come. Peace! :-) -Tim

[@DwightAnders92]

Your skill and dedication are a genuine joy to watch. Excellent vid!

[@stevenstarlin]

When stamping/texturing your leather, if you're looking for a little more depth, you can dampen the leather first. A little bit of distilled water (depending on the depth or maliability you're looking for) will make the leather more pliable and easier to work. I've done a number of belts, but only one sheath so far, and dampening has made the stamps stay much longer than a dry-stamping would.

[@johnholmes6897]

I watched the episodes of FIF you were on, which is why I sought you out on KZbin. You make a nice blade

[@ZoonCrypticon]

Those pieces look absolutely stunning ! Great handicraft !

[@jhublades]

Thank you :)

[@coltin4803]

My eyes were glued to you're video from start to finish! FIF might've helped you progress a little quicker but you have a natural talent like no other keep up the amazing work!

[@yourfriend5144]

Absolutely one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. Great job buddy! And hello from Damascus👋🏻❤

[@jhublades]

Thank you!!! Your words mean a lot :)

[@benwilke5079]

You probably already know this as another method, but when needing to mark depth on a drill bit, I wrap painters tape at the mark instead of Sharpie so that you can quickly make another mark on the same bit. Not that there is anything at all wrong with using Sharpie and cleaning it off later if needed!

[@zacharytaylor2279]

Have you thought of having big outdoor fans pulling the heat out? I went and did a blacksmith blademaking class near me and he put big outdoor fans to help pull the heat out. Helped a ton in terms of temperatures he just placed near the back of his forge.

[@edwindungdung1998]

I must say, I don't really watch a lot of forging and knife making or black smithing channels, but seems to be a natural progression from furniture building. Both are outside my skill set but incredibly entertaining to watch. All that being said, I enjoyed this build a lot, it looks cool and makes me wanna get a custom knife too. I'll just add that the style of storytelling reminds of the Four Eyes furniture channel.

[@mkdemagog4509]

Excellent job! Great fit and finish! Pleasure to watch!

[@yngve6640]

The Damascus patterns are crazy cool. These two Bowies are among my few favourite ones that i have seen made of the best knife building artists here on KZbin. Every little detail is to my liking with both these knifes. Thanks from Norway, for this video🫶

[@Sualin]

for your next sheath, consider having the strap that hold the blade on the back side so when you draw the knife you don't risk cutting the strap. the way you put them on there's a risk of it flapping back down and resting on the edge.

[@NolansKnives]

HOLY MOLY jesse!!! You have outdone yourself! This video was by far your best one yet! Everything about it was amazing! The videography was really good and the editing was put together so well! It really made it entertaining the whole time! Now these knives are straight up works of art! Appsolultly STUNNING work! The mosaic pattern you showed being made was mesmerizing! It was so unique and I have never seen one quite so intricate and detailed! I recently had two knives warp horribly in a quench and one even snapped at the tip. Do you have any suggestions on what could be going wrong! Thank you, and thank you for taking the time to make such quality knives and content! I’ve said this before and i’ll say it again you are a true inspiration to me! God bless.

[@bob-lc2hl]

Well said!

[@jacobstout4552]

Could be a few things: too thin going into quench, uneven heat going into the quench, wrong oil for the steel you're using.

[@johncamp7679]

Hey player, the P100 filter you’re using is for really fine dust particles, like asbestos. For the chemicals you need an organic filter, it filters out vapors, like epoxy, or acid fumes. If you can smell through your respirator, check your fit, or replace with new ones. There’s more that goes into just putting a respirator on, but that should help you better than nothing.

[@Owen322]

Cant wait to watch the new video. I would just like to say that your videos inspire me to make my knives better and get better at my craft to make knives like you.

[@jhublades]

Can't wait to show it to you! That's awesome :D I'm honored to hear that I'm inspiring you on your journey.

[@chaselilly8541]

Great job. About leaterwork. If you get a pro level awl it will go through that leather like it isn't there. It makes the sheath process so much more enjoyable.

[@philochristos]

Nice job. Those came out beautifully.

[@Branden1226]

First off, absolutely amazing work. These are awesome. Second, when working with leather. Make sure to wet your leather when stamping. A barely wet sponge ran over the surface is more or less enough. But it makes a huge difference. Also, try it on a few scrap pieces first. Too wet and everything can look muddy, but just the right amount can make all your lines/stamps have a perfectly crisp edge to them.

[@DamianRiccioli]

Jesse you are a beast at this. I saw all the episodes of Forged in fire that you won and you were unbeatable. My question is, if you didn't have all these tools before the show, where did you get your skills?

[@jachconi]

Nicest knives I’ve ever seen. I’m 50 years old and loved knives since I can remember. What you created is perfectly EPIC!!!!

[@mike-carrigan]

I would recommend removing the mild steel before normalizing, you even mention it, carbon homogenization. It's also called carbon migration. Imagine when you put something hot and cold together they want to equal out. You put something at 100deg with something at 50deg, in theory they will balance at 75deg. You are doing that normalizing with the mild steel. Every time you get the blade up into those temps some of your carbon is migrating to the mild steel.

[@Spudweiser3]

My son and I are just getting started as amateurs in making knifes with a little Amazon forge and a railroad tie anvil and you are an inspiration!

[@martinschroeder8130]

Damn Jesse, these two are stunning!! Amazing work. A western sword or dagger would be really cool to see in the future!

[@PulsechainProfits]

World class craftsmanship. Well done. Man i would LOVE one of those knives.

[@jessep8170]

Damn keep killin it brotha love the motivation and videos.

[@jhublades]

Thanks man, more to come👍

[@devindodge8648]

Well done my brother. You earned everything you have through hard work, nobody can ever take that away from you and you deserve everything in your shop and more. It's the little details that make you great, you have high standards that money cannot buy. Those twins are fantastic.

[@GhostDog54]

I caught those Forged in Fire episodes on Netflix, and you had an awesome run

[@magicschosen]

First off Copper is amazing. Second off I don’t watch your content for short cuts I watch because I love forging and learning.

[@MMKnight_1]

Awesome as always. I think you should make the "Rivers of Blood" katana from the game Elden Ring. It looks sick and you'd probably like it!

[@cadenayers9253]

That shimmering/changing effect on the wood is called chatoyance! It’s the illusion of depth being generated in a flat and opaque surface!

[@guillermoalfaro2714]

Bro?!! That's a beautiful 😍 knife 😍 🔪 gorgeous

[@oscarmarfori613]

Your setup is the most modern forging shop I've ever seen, most shop will be somewhere isolated like a house in the forest, anyways your projects are nice and unique I just wish that I can afford to buy one of your work coz in my humble opinion they are just a work of art

[@The-Lord-Kaos]

Well, that's a pretty interesting knife you got there

[@notanuser4937]

This is probably one of the best youtube videos i have ever watched hands down.

[@j1i688]

Can't wait to see the results of these blades!!!!

[@tuomasholo]

The process was incredible with 134 degree temps in AZ and the finished knives are beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

[@jhublades]

I'm glad you enjoyed!

[@GuiltyMalice]

One of your videos was in my recommended a little while ago. I watched it and your work is impressive. After that I watched all your duels on FIF. You were amazing and so were all your builds. You’ve got skills “Big Chungus” lol. These blades came out beautiful, excellent work. Thanks for sharing.

[@davidsimpson4407]

Being able to execute hard exacting work is a talent in itself. It’s great that you’re starting so young. The artistry will grow exponentially with your knowledge and experience. I’m looking forward to watching you grow for years and decades to come.

[@NeroZashi]

Great work Jesse, Love your work 👍

[@jhublades]

Thanks! I appreciate it

[@Yamototamto]

Im in Awe watching an expert artisan making things. Insane! Love it! Amazing 999

[@Gobra5]

When stamping impressions into leather, "case" or wet the leather first, leave it to absorb the water and once the colour starts returning to normal, then do it, you'll get much cleaner, deeper impressions. Epic work

[@GavinCoybarber]

When you got your wisdom teeth removed I thought you were going to say you passed out from heat

[@nickblecha7832]

Jesse, I saw you on forged an fire and immediately knew I loved your style and method of making knives. A true pleasure to watch thank you.

[@xxitz_pr0gxx631]

You and Kyle Royer's channel, are my favorite bladesmiths on KZbin. Are you a Mastersmith?

[@jhublades]

Honored to be mentioned in the same category as Kyle. I’m still an ABS apprentice😅, two grades below master smith.

[@xxitz_pr0gxx631]

@@jhublades That's so exciting! I love these longer form videos. In an age where people's attention span is the size of a piece of paper is thick, I prefer looooooooooong videos, because I am a stickler for details. I love how in depth you get in your videos. Did you see Kyle's newest video that he posted the other day? That beautiful dagger with the stone handle??? 🤩😍🤩😍

[@nicolesouthwell1863]

Im a leather worker and just for tips, wet the leather before hand and give a few min to dry, then stamp. this will leave a better impression and longer stamp. Great work!

[@pranavalfredmarandi8724]

Next, big and lengthy project to make can be a katana with several layers. Like 36,000 layers that pattern will be mesmerizing to watch.

[@jhublades]

That would definitely be time consuming😭. Though at 36,000 layers it would look like mono-steel

[@NYCMountaineer]

You're using traditional methods of saddle stitching, which is great. With such thick leather, one option to make it a touch easier for stitching (particularly for the finishing holes) is to use a drill press with fine bits to remove just a bit of the leather. I found this really helped me keep my stiching lines looking extra clean.

[@bruh1257-g2g]

Man i love your videos, there so educating and yet so entertaining. keep up the good work 👍

[@NYCMountaineer]

For the texturing, it's best to first chase the leather. This will help the proteins hold their shape. Chasing refers to soaking veg-tanned leather in water, this chases the bubbles of air out of it.

[@kwayneg30]

I've seen your gladiator forged in fire and it's pretty damn impressive. It's what led me here after one of your early videos was recommended by youtube

[@fayvis]

25:35 - Lolol the blissssss on your face when you get that AC unit up. Fantastic content as always!

[@mkdemagog4509]

I just heard that i should show my interest about your Forged in Fire story - here it is!!! Tell us about it, with all the details, how it really was, especially all this time restrictions. How it damaged your work, what kind of shortcuts you have to use, etc. PS: If you ever have a chance to compete againg, who would be the most challenging opponent? You can name few of them.

[@agileist]

I really appreciate how you take the time to really show and explain what youre doing and why, but at the same time, you have that eagerness to learn, so you observe and try new things. Your channel is right there with the likes of Royer dude. In a few years, your channel is gonna be loaded with amazing works!!

[@yossizifkin3965]

something that would be really cool to see you build that would really push you into uncharted waters would be to build a Zweihander.

[@yossizifkin3965]

It would also be even more difficult if you made it with one of your beautiful and complicated Damascus patterns.

[@johnsoncheng3921]

Jesse, your craftsmanship is unreal. The level of detail in these knives is just mind-blowing. Saw you on Forged in Fire and was blown away by your talent. Keep up the incredible work, man ! 👊🔥

[@markforsell494]

For a non leather worker you did really good job👍. Do I also see a Martin Guitar case in the background?

[@nairolf8144]

In three videos you've managed to be my favorite knifemaker on youtube. watched the premiere live yesterday (my yesterday), and seeing the 47k views this morning makes me very happy! Keep it up Jesse!

[@FrazzledPup]

Super impressive as always 👍

[@paidbysteel133]

The amount of attention to detail and dedication you put into this is was amazing

[@Oktofisch]

Like you said early in the Video a greatsword would be really cool

[@markcollins5451]

Lenticular is the name of the pictures that change as you walk by. Great work Jesse, the blades and the videos. Thx for the hours of inspiring content.

[@owen3336]

Amazing skills! I love watch your videos not gonna lie will you consider make a Bao Teng Saber?

[@capsizedkraken8405]

I love seeing the process from start to finish especially with all the minor mistakes, it helps us learn how we can overcome the same as well as I think this video was just cool to watch true art and craftsmanship from someone who clearly cares. Keep up the great work man.

[@drjock420]

man no way i knew i seen you somewhere before but coouldnt remember where and been rewatching FIF trecently hahaha

[@马k]

Craftsmanship, Inspirational, Meticulous, Artistic, and Motivational, continue your journey, explore your potential, thank you for sharing your exploration in life.

[@alexpheonix276]

Not a blacksmith but I think the distortion you’re getting has something tondo with the size of your dyes on the hydronic press. The bigger the dyes are the less interference zones you should get between the pressing zones. The interference zones, I think, are what’s causing the distortion